SOUNDING ROCKETS: TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN THE SKYRocket technology - drive for research
WARR Rocketry:
Founded in 1962 and thus the oldest branch of WARR, the Scientific Working Group for Rocketry and Spaceflight at the Technical University of Munich.
Whether aerospace, mechanical engineering, economics or business administration - with the "Nixus" project, the students of WARR Rocketry are driving forward the development of a sounding rocket powered by liquid propellant.
The Nixus team at WARR Rocketry is relying on safety valves from GOETZE for the rocket drive and the test stand's fluid system.
GOETZE safety valves: Reliable partners in the aerospace industry
Our compact yet powerful safety valves play a crucial role in safeguarding the fluid system of the "Nixus" sounding rocket. Our valves ensure the safety and functionality of both the test stand and the "Ex-4" rocket when using liquid propellant.
ADAPTATION TO COMPLEX REQUIREMENTSSafety and efficiency in engine testing
The Ground Support Equipment team (GSE team) is part of the project, working on the design, development and manufacture of the ground infrastructure needed to test the individual components. One of the milestones was the development of a test stand for the engines, which can be used for testing both the smaller, capacitively cooled and the regeneratively cooled combustion chamber in Garching. Due to the complex nature of a liquid-fueled rocket, challenges arise both in the structure and in the fluid system of the test stand.
The GSE team uses GOETZE safety valves to safeguard this test stand.
Focus on liquid fuel and safety valves:
The engines currently being developed by the team work with the fuel ethanol and the oxidizer liquid oxygen (LOX), which are fed to the engine via the test stand's fluid system.
The Series 492 safety valves protect various segments of the fluid system, such as the tanks for ethanol and liquid oxygen (LOX). The GOX design of the 492 series results from the use of liquid oxygen, with which the valve has no contact, but with which the vaporization of the LOX above the tank creates an oxygen atmosphere.
The ethanol fuel is fed past the outer wall of the combustion chamber in channels for regenerative cooling. To compensate for the resulting pressure loss and ensure that the ethanol and oxygen can be injected into the combustion chamber at the same pressure, the ethanol tank must be pressurized to a higher pressure.
The 492 series with an opening pressure of 130 bar is the safe choice here.
The stainless steel safety valve from the 2400 series is used to protect the LOX refueling system. It protects important parts, such as a vacuum hose, from excessive pressure.
FULFILLMENT OF THE HIGHEST REQUIREMENTSThe Ex-4 rocket for the European Rocketry Challenge
In parallel to the tests on the completed test bench and based on the findings of the test series, the WARR team also built the "Ex-4" rocket for participation in the European Rocketry Challenge 2023 in Portugal.
Here, the fluid team took responsibility for the design and layout of the fluid system, which ensures that the fuel is pumped from the tanks into the combustion chamber.
GOETZE VALVES IN THE "EX-4" ROCKETDesign and implementation of the fluid system
GOETZE safety valves were also used again to protect the safety-critical components of the rocket.
Compared to the test application, the valves used here fulfill the same function as on the test stand, but the use for the rocket results in more requirements for the safety valves.
To maximize the flight altitude, for example, mass and volume must be minimized. Thanks to their compact design, the GOETZE valves are well within the requirement margins.
The Scientific Working Group for Rocketry and Space Flight (WARR) at the Technical University of Munich is therefore ideally equipped for a successful launch at the next challenge, when the motto is:
t-minus 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 – ignition and lift-of
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